Beesia calthifolia

Beesia Ranunculaceae

A superb evergreen woodland perennial, Beesia calthifolia is a member of the Ranunculaceae and one of those quietly exceptional plants whose glossy foliage makes it valuable long before the flowers appear. It forms a slowly spreading clump of shiny, deep green, rounded to heart-shaped leaves, held on long stalks, from which arise slender stems carrying sprays of small, starry white to slightly pinkish flowers. The flowers have no petals; the showy parts are the five petal-like sepals surrounding a mass of fine stamens.

Its natural distribution is extensive, stretching from southern Gansu, Shanxi, Hubei and Hunan through Sichuan, Guizhou and Guangxi to north-western Yunnan, and into northern Myanmar. In the wild it inhabits moist valleys, stream margins, rainforest and open woodland, often growing amongst deep woodland shade on damp, rocky or clay-rich slopes. Recorded populations occur from around 1,400 to 4,425 m, explaining its considerable adaptability in cultivation. 

In the garden it is an excellent plant for the cool, shady woodland, particularly beneath deciduous trees and shrubs. Give it humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil and protection from hot afternoon sun. It appreciates a consistently moist root run but should not be left waterlogged. Once established it is remarkably tough, with the RHS rating it H6, making it hardy to approximately −20°C to −15°C. 

The foliage is evergreen in Britain and provides excellent year-round groundcover, while the upright flowering stems appear from late spring into summer. The plant slowly develops into an impressive colony without becoming invasive, and can be propagated by seed or division. 

Height: 30–50 cm
Spread: 30–45 cm
Flowering: May–July
Position: Partial shade to deep shade
Soil: Humus-rich, moist but well drained
Hardiness: H6, approximately −20°C to −15°C